Venetian blind cleaning apparatus



Jan 12, 1954 c, ROBlNSON 2,665,698

VENETIAN BLIND CLEANING API ARATUS Filed Feb. 25, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. 1:0 (7 X'oa/nov/f Jan 12, 1954 L- c. ROBINSON 2,665,698

VENETIAN BLIND CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 23, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 11:1. 4- 'P1q r-1=1q. s

m rEN TOR. A 50 C Aaa/Ms 0M Patented Jan. 12 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VENETIAN' BLIND CLEANING APPARATUS Leo G..Robinson, Indianapolis, Ind.

Application February 23, 1949, Serial No. 77,878

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning Venetian blinds of wood, metal or plastic slat type, and other slat-like articles such as shutters, etc.

The chief object of this invention is to clean, without scrubbing or wiping, blinds and the like of the character aforesaid.

The chief feature of'the present invention resides in cleaning primarily by pressurized cleansing and rinsing fluids.

The apparatus of this invention is capable of one man manipulation and extremely simple in character so that initial investment, subsequent maintenance and operating personnel costs are minimized.

Other objects and features will be set forth more fully hereinafter.

The present invention contemplates an elongated handle and spray device flexibly connected to a single motor driven pump adapted to selectively supply to the said device the cleaning solution and/or the rinse Water.

Tapes, cords, head and bottom boards, etc., as well as the slats are all cleaned without the necessity of rubbing, wiping or scrubbing.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claim;

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective semi-diagrammatic view of a dual unit embodiment of theinvention.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of piping and like connections.

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram of an automatic control system embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a central sectional view of the spray nozzle" tip structure.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one side of the nozzle element.

Fig. 6 is a similar view of the other side thereof.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the suction head device.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic representation of a modified piping system of simplified form.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings I indicates a backstop of appreciable widthand appreciableheight. Same, however, herein terminates short of or slightly above the floor, sothat a drain H may be disposed therebeneath. Extending outwardly and upwardly therefrom and on eachside of the same are the wings 12'.

In overhead relation and inwardly of the upward projection of the outer edges of said wings are the pulley supports l3 supporting pulleys l4- carrying cables I. 'I-heseare connected at 2 the ends, closest to the partition ID, to a light support such as a hollow tube l6 disposed lengthwise immediately contiguous to the partition. A suitable counter-balance in the form of springs, weights, or another tube I! is connected to the other ends of the said cables l5, said other ends being supported by pulleys l8. Any other suitable adjustable holder may be employed.

Support [6 thus may be raised and lowered depending on the length of the blinds to be supported thereby. The number of shades so supported at any one time is determined by support length and blind width. The maximum length of blind to be accommodated is determined by the elevation of pulleys I 4.

Th blinds B include the usual slats S, tapes I, cords C and head and bottom members H and B" respectively. Each of said supports I 6 has slidably supported thereon the loops I9 each of which includes a pair of depending portions 20, each of which in turn, terminates in. a loop 2 I.

The loop ends are slipped over the head board H at opposite ends thereof and thus the shade is suspendingly supported by the support tube Hi. When the latter has been elevated to dispose the extended blinds above the adjacent wing [2, the blind may be cleaned when the slats are disposed at about 45. Then the blind is turned about-on the loop IS, the length of portions 20 permitting such turning either to the right or left. The slats are again disposed at about 45. Then the other side of the blind is cleaned as before.-

Following' cleaning of all blinds then on a support I 6 on both sides they are rinsed from one side then turned over and again rinsed.

The blinds then can be drawn up and the support [6 lowered whereupon the cleaned and rinsed blinds are removed and otherwise hung up to dry in extended relation and with the slats in the intermediate or open position.

Herein, see Fig. 2, the apparatus and material for'cleaning and rinsing the blinds includes a single motor driven pump 22 suitably driven by motor 23 through belt 24. The motor is controlled by an on-ofi switch 25,

The pump- 22 includes an intake suck line 26 and apressure discharge line 21, a gauge branch line 28 withpressure gauge 29 therein and a bypass relief branch line 30 with waste extension 3|. This bypass is automatic in that when the pump is started it may run without line dest'ruction even if pressure line 21 be closed. The pump may have a capacity sufficient to accommodate two or more cleansing and rinsing de- 3 vices. When all are in use the bypass is seldom operative. When but part of them are in use or all are cut oil or closed down the relief bypass is effective.

A flexible hose 32 is connected. to pressure line 27 at one end and its opposite end is connected to a valve numbered 33 having the manual operable handle 3 Extending from this valve member 33 is an elongated rigid tube 35 having its opposite end disposed angularly of the main body portion as indicated at 35. This angle is somewhere in the neighborhood of 135.

This angle end terminates in a nozzle 3?, see Fig. 4, which is formed as follows; the end of the portion is threaded as at 33 and it is reduced interiorly and exteriorly as at 39 and id, the former forming a seat ii to accommodate an apertured disk 42, the latter being held by an open type cup 53 threaded on to the threaded portion 3% of the angular portion 36.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the disk 42 includes a central a erture M and the inside is relieved as indicated. at 45 and the outside includes a segmental relieved portion dd. The result is that the discharge under high pressure from this nozzle structure is in the form of a very fine spray having very great velocity.

The suck line it may be of flexible character and terminates in a screened intake, see Fig. 7, wh ch comprises a suck head indicated generally by the numeral 47. Said head essentially is a cylinder closed at its free end ts and its opposite end ts is suitably connected to a threaded member terminating the suck line. The side wall of the cyl nder is cut out as at 5!] and the openings thus formed, exposing the interior of the cylinder, are closed by a screen or wire mesh 5!, of from lflo to 150 to the inch. This screen material is usually cop er or bronze.

A tank 52 is provided that preferably is connected to a source of water supply such as a city water supply 53 and a valve 54. controls the discharge of that supply to that tank. Such valve is controlled by a float structure 55. Thus when water is being taken from the tank and the water level dro s therein, the float follows. This opens the valve permitting the city water supply to replenish water taken from the tank. The float rises and when the desired water level is at tained, the valve cuts off the city supply.

Another'tank 55 is provided which is a detergent tank. Both tanks, if desired, may be suitably drained. The detergent com osition is placed in the tank 55 and stirred until dissolved or nearly dissolved. Then the suck head 4'! is disposed in the detergent tank 56 and the waste line 3% from the pump is also disposed in the tank.

When the switch is closed the motor is started and the pump operates, sucking the detergent or cleansing solution through the suck head, then through the pump and wasting the same back to the detergent tank 58 if spray device valve 33 be closed. If the blinds have been disposed, as previously described and the pump is operating as described, the operator opens valve 33 and directs the detergent spray from nozzle 3! upon the tapes, cords, head and bottom boards and the slats of the several Venetian blinds.

It has been ascertained that when the gauge 29 indicates 300 p. s. i. at the pump, the pressure at the nozzle is approximately 2'75 p. s. i. but this pressure is not destructive to the blinds because of the finally divided condition of the spray. By virtue of this high pressure and Q 1? detergent solution employed, the grease, dust, dirt, etc. are all washer. from the surface subjected to that spray. It might here be stated that the length of the tube 35 about 3 /2 feet long and the nozzle 3'5 is disposed about six or eight inches rom the surface to be cleaned, although it might be disposed at a slightly greater distance. Obviously that portion of the spray that does not impinge upon a blind or portion thereof will impinge upon the back stop ill and drain downwardly. Such detergent solution as impinges upon the blind will also drain downwardly.

Preferably to prevent waste of the drainage from the back stop is and the blinds the former is collected by the drain it and wings l2 and returned to the detergent tank 5 5. Some foaming results due to this return and also due to the pump bypass operation, hence the employment of the suck head to prevent sucking of bubbles, suds and solids into the pump which would, if so taken into the pump, either damage the pump or air lock the same. It has been ascertained that the amount of detergent solution to be made up is sufiicient for a days or one-half days use providing one man or multiple operation is employed and the drainage is returned to the detergent tank for recycling.

After the blinds have been cleaned as described, the motor may be stopped if desired, the waste line applied to tank 52, the suck line also applied thereto and the drain disassociated from the detergent tank so that the drain now will discharge to a sewer connection. Then the motor is started and in a few moments the system is cleared of detergent solution and clean water only is handled thereby. This clean water is then applied to the blinds and if necessary multiple rinsing is then effected. Then the motor is stopped and after they have suificiently drained, the cleaned blinds are removed and dirty blinds supplied to the support for cleaning.

The foregoing describes the simplest form of apparatus and it will be obvious that the same can be handled by a workman of but little skill. t will also be noted that the angular disposition of the tip or nozzle 3'! and the length of the handle 35 or tube supplying same is such that the operator in general can stand upright and reach blind portions above his head and to'the right and left of him, as well as the blind portions disposed about ankle level.

Economical operation, it will be obvious, is to reuse or cycle the detergent solution which is drain collected and then returned to the detergent tank.

This simple apparatus previously described, requires the operator to shift not only the suck line and head but also the pump waste line from the detergent tank to the rinse water tank and vice versa. The simplest way to enable the operator to shift the lines simultaneously would be to tape or otherwise mechanically secure the suck head and the discharge end of the pump waste line together so that these two lines will be handled as a unit. Then all the operator has to do is stop the pump, make the shift from tank to tank and divert the drainage from the spray device either to the sewer or to the'detergent tank as specified.

For fool proof operation it is contemplated that three controls be provided and these comprise an on and off switch for the motor and a waste control and a rinse control, the two latter being coordinated differentially, that is, o e if off when the other is on- Such: controls therefore, only requires'motor energizatiozr. or cut off and. op. crating the wash and: rinseccmtrois. for the: de: sired washing and rinsing. Such controls may he of the interlocked-type or: be of'the elec trically controlled type. The motor obviously is electrically controlled.

Reference will now be had to one embodiment of such automatically controlled structure.

In Fig. 2- the manual semi-automatic mechanical control system is illustrated. Motor 23 is supplied by line L-l and L-2 controlled. by the on and 01f push button 25. The waste line. 3! includes branch 3|Wandthe branch 3 IR. These two branches are controlled by: a single 3-way valve 31V. Thesuck line 213 includes branch Zi-ZW and branch 25R and thejunction is controlled by valve 26V. Suck heads MW and HR are disposed in the detergent and rinsetanks 55 and 53, respectively; The free ends of the waste lines 31W and 3 FR aresiinilarly disposed in said tanks, respectively.

Herein there is diagrammatically illustrated a sewer drain S and disposed at the termination of drain l l is a diverter D which may divert the drainage from drain H to the detergent tank 56 or to the sewer drain 5.

Eereina handle 25!) is mounted on a rock shaft El and this rock shaft is suitably connected by mechanism 62 to this diverter D. This shaft is also suitably connected as at 63 to the valve 26V. Similarly the valve 31V is connected by mechanism '5 to said rock shaft El. When the handle 80 is disposed in the wash position the diverter D will be disposed as shown in full lines in Fig. 2, thus, returning the drainage to the detergent tank. At the same time valves 29V and 31V, two or three way valves as desired, are so positioned through the mechanisms 63 and E i respectively, that the waste line MW is in direct communication with waste line 31 and the suck line 26W is in direct communication with the suck line 25. The system is thus conditioned for washing when the motor switch is closed and the handle 66 is disposed as shown by the full lines.

When the handle 65 is disposed as shown by the dotted lines, the rock shaft 6! has actuated mechanisms 62, 53 and 64 to effect the following changes: The cliverter D has now been shifted for discharge to the sewer S (see dotted lines) and no longer discharges to the tank 56. The waste line 3iR is now in direct communication with the waste line 3! and the waste line 3IW is cut oif. The suck line 26R with suck head 41R are now in free communication with suck line 26 and suck head MW and suck line 26W are now out off therefrom. Thus, the system is conditioned for rinsing. The rinse water wastes to the sewer, thus preventing dilution of the detergent or cleansing solution.

Reference will now be had to Fig. 3 wherein an electric type control system is illustrated. The motor 23 is again supplied by lines L-1 and L-2 controlled by the on-off push button switch 25. Herein a two-way switch is provided and the two-way switch blades 65 thereof are connected by lines 66 and E"! to lines L-2 and L-1 respectively. Herein waste line 3| is provided with branches 31R and 3 lW as before.

Each of these branches is controlled by a valve, thus, the rinse waste line includes the normally closed solenoid valve designated by the numeral 65R and controlled by solenoid 69R. The wash water waste line 31W is similarly controlled by 6 the. valve 68W in turn controlled by the sole noid 69W.

The suck line. 26 includes the two branches 26R and 215W as before and disposed in each is a solenoid valve designated 58R and with solenoid HR and valve 19W controlled by solenoid 'HW respectively. Herein the diverter D is connected to thecores of the solenoids liZW and 12R.

The several solenoids designated with the R suflix are connected to the contacts 13 and 14 and the several relays or solenoids designated by the suffix W are connected to the contacts 75 and 1601 the two-way switch. Thus, when the two blades of switch 55 engage contacts l3-l4, the system is conditioned for rinsing and when the contacts 65, as illustrated, engage the contacts l5 and 15 of said two-way switch, the W suffix relays are energized and the system is conditi'oned for washing.

Thus, the operator has only to actuate the motor control switch and the s'- in position to close the same for we ring or rinsing. The latter switch is dia maticaily illustrated. for any suitable modification or variation thereof may be employed.

When it is desired, with either of the two last mentioned systems, it is not nec to stop thepumpto shift from rinse to we a or wash to rinse. The operator thus. can have the pump run continuously while working, whether washing or rinsing, as the case may be. He would only stop the pump at such time as he might be applying blinds to be cleaned and removing cleaned blinds from the blind support previously described.

In the event that two men are available, one can perform the last mentioned operation and the other can perform the washing and rinsing operation. The operator who performs the latter operation then moves from one side of the partition to the other. If two operators are washing and rinsing, as has also been mentioned, it is obvious that both must wash at the same time and rinse at the same time, and by that is meant one cannot be washing while the other is rinsing.

In Fig. 8 there is disclosed one detergent tank Ill, one valve controlled pressure water supply line I53, manually controlled at Hit, a threeway valve I26V connected to said line and said tank at M1. The valve also connects by line I26 to a motor driven pump with adjustable internal bypass [3i included therein. The discharge line I32 from the pump terminates in the hand control I34 and spray nozzle structure I 35-l 31.

In this simplified form the three-way valve [26V selectively connects the tank and line together for tank filling. Then it connects the tank and pump together for detergent supply to the nozzle. Then it connects the line and pump together for rinse purposes.

In this embodiment a single three-way valve I 26V and a motor power switch is all that is required for operation. Preferaby the so-called drain collector ilk-H2 is utilized as the tank and it includes a valve controlled waste me which is normally closed at valve I0! during washing and open during rinsing. Hence recirculation of detergent is still utilized but a separate detergent tank is unnecessary.

It appears that 600 p. s. i. is the maximum safe pressure usable in this invention. Also it appears that p. s. i. will spray clean substantially every household or oifice Venetian blinds. For special blinds greater or lesser pressures may be required. The lower limit, especially for very light fragile slats. The reference to specific pressures is given by way of example only.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in great detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character.

The several modifications described herein as well as others which will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art, all are considered to be within the broad scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claim.

The invention claimed is:

A Venetian blind cleaning apparatus comprising a back stop, a drain disposed therebeneath, a Venetian blind support suspended in overhead relation in close proximity to said back stop and vertically adjustable for disposing the lower end of an extended Venetian blind above the drain, said support comprising a substantially horizontal elongated member disposed in a plane parallel to said back stop, a plurality of blind connecting means slidably carried by said member, each of said connecting means including a pair of equal length suspension elements terminating in a loop,

8 said loops being adapted for operative association with the ends of the headboard of a Venetian blind, and a high pressure spray discharge means adapted to discharge in close proximity to the blind a cleansing solution spray upon the blind at a pressure of not less than p. s. i.

LEO C. ROBINSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 397,533 Butts Feb. 12, 1889 803,274 Deaver Oct. 31, 1905 832,818 Simmons Oct. 9, 1906 872,314 Wilson Nov. 26, 1907 875,163 Ellis Dec. 31, 1907 1,066,371 Bosworth July 1, 1913 1,447,305 Hauk Mar. 6, 1923 1,670,611 Couch May 22, 1928 2,266,126 Malsbary et al Dec. 16, 1941 2,279,691 Long et a1 Apr. 14, 1942 2,425,620 Kempton Aug. 12, 1947 2,508,999 Hirsch May 23, 1950 2,558,628 Redin June 26, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 581,777 Great Britain Oct. 24, 1946 

